RYLEY, Alberta — Two Team Alberta players are on top of the leaderboard after day one of the 2017 Alberta Junior & Juvenile Championship. Today’s competitors battled blustery conditions, while testing their skills at a new provincial championship host course. The Coal Creek Golf Resort, in Ryley Alta., proved to be a fair but challenging test, with only three of the 145 competitors able to post red figures through the first round.

“Coal Creek is an amazing facility and a very, very challenging golf course. When we set it up, we tried to be as fair as possible, because we know usually the wind blows out here, and it didn’t let us down today. It got a little calmer towards the end, but it sure gave us a lot of cause for concern out there, and every spotter we had we needed,” says Tournament Rules Chair Fran Marsden.

U19 girls team member, Kehler Koss, and High Performance player, Ethan Choi both find themselves two shots ahead of their competition heading into day two.

After posting an opening round 74, Koss comes off of last year’s Interprovincial Junior Team and leads by two shots over her U19 teammate, Annabelle Ackroyd (+4). Tillie Claggett (+5) finds herself in third place, which included a highlight eagle on the par 4 fifth.

Choi is building off his incredible 59 posted at last year’s 2016 Alberta Bantams, claiming today’s top spot with score of 68. The 15-year-old finds himself ahead of his nearest competitor by two shots. Korbin Allan, sits second after posting a two under par round of 70, with Matt Campbell (-1) and 2016 Alberta Juvenile Champion, Chandler McDowell tied with three others at even par.

The boys will begin their second round of the 72 hole competition at 8AM tomorrow. The top 60 and ties will advance to Thursday and Friday’s final rounds. The girls will begin their second rounds at 12:30PM tomorrow. A 54 hole female champion is expected to be declared by 2PM on Thursday.

TOP 10 – BOYS LEADERBOARD